Positive Psychology: The Science of Increased Well-Being During COVID-19

Hiding beneath the ever-present threat of COVID-19 and the devastation caused by the unprecedented pandemic is a crisis of another kind: A massive surge in issues regarding mental health. Much has been written on the implications dramatic changes to daily life have for communities of all kinds, but still overlooked is the strain the pandemic is putting on our well-being. Some surveys suggest that close to half of those surveyed have seen ‘ a substantial negative impact’ to their mental well-being during this time. Given that the light hasn’t quite yet appeared at the end of the tunnel, now is an important time to learn more about positive psychology and the science of increased well-being.

            Positive Psychology Practitioner, though trendy as of late, has emerged from decades of diligent research into how our mindsets influence the way we move through the world. The premise of positive psychology is relatively straightforward, uncontroversial advice: Trying to center positive events, emotions, hobbies, and influences in every facet of our lives. And the science is surprisingly straightforward as well: Focusing on the good in the world and the good in your life will lead to more positive experiences by lifting up joy, love, growth and happiness, and searching for those sensations when they seem less obviously present.

 

            To dig a little deeper - if you’re still skeptical - here’s a more detailed explanation: To believe in positive psychology is to believe that most people are inherently good and possess a desire to create happiness in their lives and the lives of those around them. Regardless, no matter how hard we try, all of us will experience setbacks, disappointments, and roadblocks in our lives. These inevitable occasions leave us like a deer in the headlights: Scared, uncertain, and faced with a decision to make. We can either allow our circumstances to get the best of us - by giving up, turning to bad habits, getting angry, etc. - or we can rise to the occasion. By centering positivity in your life, you’ll be much better equipped to overcome these challenges in healthy and sustainable ways. Although it might not seem like it at times, there is often a positive spin we can place on any scenario where forward motion is the only option. And since so much of the adversity we face leaves us only with that option of moving forward in our lives, even when hope isn’t easy to see, having hope in our heads and hearts puts us in the best position to emerge a better version of ourselves.

 

            A quick tip, catered to the coronavirus before we go: A simple way to practice Positive Psychology Training in your own life is a daily journal. Although the notion of journalist may seem a little silly to adults, there are no rules for implementation, and the process of reflecting on your day, life, relationships, work - anything, really - provides for productive opportunities to express gratitude, sort through thoughts, and come to new realizations.